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Hotchpot clause meaning

What does Hotchpot clause mean?
A hotchpot clause directs executors or trustees, when dividing an estate or trust, to bring into account lifetime advances or substantial gifts made by the testator/settlor to a beneficiary, so that shares are equalised and “double portions” are avoided. It is not a defined statutory term but a longstanding expression in wills and trusts practice, reflected in case law usage. Key features typically specify: - What counts as an advance (for example, significant lifetime gifts, loans intended to be forgiven), and any exclusions for normal seasonal or minor gifts. - How to value the advance (at date of gift or death), whether to add interest or indexation, and evidential requirements (such as receipts or memoranda). - Whether the clause applies to residue only, fixed legacies, or both, and how to deal with disclaimers or predecease. Across England & Wales and Northern Ireland, hotchpot aligns with common law principles; intestacy legislation contains separate “advancement” rules, but a clause provides clarity for testate estates. In Scotland, the concept parallels collation (collatio inter liberos) and may interact with legal rights. In Ireland, similar advancement concepts apply; hotchpot clauses are routinely used to manage equalisation. The clause affects distribution, not tax treatment.
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View the related Practice Notes about Hotchpot clause

PRACTICE NOTES
A-Z glossary of UK corporate restructuring and insolvency: key terms, procedures, enforcement and cross-border issues

This glossary sets out numerous expressions frequently encountered in the restructuring arena. Words appearing in the definitions in bold are explained in other entries in this glossary. For further banking terminology, see the principal Banking & Finance Glossary. Restructuring glossary—A Acceleration: Acceleration means the agent, acting on directions from the majority lenders after an event of default, takes formal action, for example calling for early repayment of the facility. Ad-hoc committee: A temporary creditors’ group (often contrasted with a formal committee) that lacks any entitlement to official recognition. Administration: A process under the IA 1986 in which a financially distressed company is operated by an administrator as a going concern before longer-term outcomes, such as break-up and sale, are pursued. Administrator: An Insolvency Practitioner named by the court, a Qualifying floating charge holder, the directors or the company, to take control and fulfil one of the purposes in IA 1986, Sch B1. Administrative receivership: Arises when a company breaches the terms of...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Comprehensive glossary of UK restructuring and insolvency terms, covering Companies Act schemes, Part 26A plans, IA 1986 processes, and cross‑border concepts including COMI, UNCITRAL and assimilated EU rules.

This glossary sets out numerous expressions regularly encountered in the restructuring & insolvency sphere. Words shown in bold within definitions are themselves explained in other entries in this glossary as well. A Article X The MLIJ contains a single provision named Article X, aimed at jurisdictions that have already implemented the MLCBI, like England, or are weighing its adoption. Article X states: ‘Not withstanding any prior interpretation to the contrary, the relief available under [insert a cross-reference to the legislation of this State enacting Article 21 of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency] includes recognition and enforcement of a judgment’ (see Practice Note: UNCITRAL model law on recognition and enforcement of insolvency-related judgments (MLIJ): Article X). Asset-backed security (ABS) A form of security anchored by asset pools, for example loans, leases, and credit card receivables. Assimilated law From 1 January 2024, ‘retained law’ has been retitled ‘assimilated law’. The body of domestic law originally arising from EU obligations, created by the European...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Hotchpot in Will Drafting: Powers of Appointment, Lifetime Advances and Debt Releases, and Partial Intestacy Rules (England and Wales)

Including hotchpot provisions in Wills can help balance what beneficiaries receive, equalising benefits between beneficiaries. The hotchpot rule also applies on a partial intestacy where death occurred before 1 January 1996; see Partial intestacy below. The use and purpose of a hotchpot clause The testator should be advised about the potential use of a hotchpot clause in three particular situations, namely: where trust beneficiaries might obtain benefits via a power of appointment over the fund where advances have been, or are expected to be, made to beneficiaries during the testator’s lifetime by the testator where the testator forgives debts owed to them For the first situation, the Will may include a hotchpot provision requiring any class member receiving an appointment to bring that benefit into account, so that they credit that share before they can participate in any unappointed part of the fund. Where the testator has made, or anticipates making, lifetime advances to particular beneficiaries, they may wish...

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View the related Precedents about Hotchpot clause

PRECEDENTS
Will clause precedent: hotchpot—children to bring into account lifetime gifts when dividing the residuary estate; applies to life interests and substitutionary beneficiaries

Having already transferred money or property to several of my children absolutely I therefore require the children named below to collate into hotchpot, on the division of my Residuary Estate, the respective amounts specified, namely: [ name of child ] the sum of £[ sum ] [ name of child ] the sum of £[ sum ] [ name of child ] the sum of £[ sum ] [ I further stipulate that where any such child is granted, under this Will, a life interest only in a share of my Residuary Estate and, under the provisions of this Will, some other person or persons shall by substitution take the share in my Residuary Estate originally given to that child, the sum required to be brought into account by that child shall be brought into account both against that child and against all persons with an interest in that share. ]...

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